Chronicle: 10 September 2025

ORDINARY GENERAL CHAPTER 2025:
CHRONICLE
DAY 9: 10th September 2025

The Capitular friars commenced the ninth day of their Ordinary General Chapter by celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentine. The holy mass took place at 7:30 in the morning on the second floor of the Collegio Santa Monica, with Fr. Edward Daleng, OSA, serving as the main presider and homilist. He was joined by Fr. Augustine Ugbomah, with whom he celebrated the 20th anniversary of their priestly ordination, and by Fr. Juraj Pigula.

In his homily, Fr. Daleng highlighted St. Nicholas of Tolentine as the first Augustinian hermit canonized after the Order's establishment in 1244, presenting him as a "shining model" for Augustinians globally and a patron for various communities and for the souls in Purgatory. Saint Nicholas's life was underscored as profoundly exemplifying the Augustinian mission through his embodiment of Christ’s compassion and mercy via prayer, penance, humility, sacrifice, and pastoral zeal. His tireless preaching, merciful approach in the confessional, and active care for the sick, comfort for the poor, and visits to prisoners demonstrated an authentic Augustinian mission that extends beyond words to sharing life with the people of God. Crucially, Nicholas harmonized community life, contemplation, and an intense apostolate, which are fundamental to the Augustinian identity. The feast served as an occasion to renew love for communal life and zeal for a mission of peace, healing, and hope.

Following Mass and breakfast, the delegates convened at the Augustinianum to resume their work on the General Chapter. On this occasion, they were joined by the newly elected Prior General, Joseph Farrell, OSA, who, in accordance with the Constitutions, assumed the presidency of the Chapter. As Fr. Farrell had already opened the Chapter as Vicar General, he continued to hold the presidency after his election as Prior General.

The new Prior General then reiterated several pivotal themes for the chapter's deliberation, drawn from the Instrumentum Laboris, emphasizing their crucial importance for repeated consideration. Chief among these was Vocation and Formation, stressing the need for a solid foundation through theological, spiritual, and psychological preparation, alongside ongoing formation. He also highlighted the Center of Augustinian study, inviting reflection on how the Order presents itself to the world and the influence of Augustine on theological thought, noting a growing desire for such understanding. The third key topic was the Communion of Goods, focusing on the sharing of communal and material life, including apostolic and missionary life, underscoring that evangelization cannot thrive without the support of community life.

Furthermore, Fr. Farrell addressed the necessity of Structures for the institution, challenging the assembly to consider how these structures could best serve the community, regions, and the Order. Underlying all these discussions, he emphasized Augustinian Spirituality as a fundamental thread, calling for a sincere and practicing spirituality that values common life, prayer, meals, and common goods, ensuring friars authentically live what they profess.

The Prior General also invited the assembly to reflect on the nomination of Assistant Generals for each region, along with the offices of Procurator General, Economo General, and Secretary General, stressing the need to choose friars whose lives embody authentic witness and example. Guided by the moderator, P. Marco Antonio Medrano, the capitulars proceeded to regional group discussions to propose names for these services.

When the session resumed at 11:15 a.m., the Prior General requested the formal submission of these proposals to assist the Order over the next six years.

He also established small commissions tasked with listening to the plenary's interventions, gathering proposals, and, when necessary, formulating new ones. The commissions were subsequently announced: For Augustinian Studies and Theological Schools: Alejandro Moral Antón, Robert Karanja Ireri, Frederick Comendador, Robert Hagan, and Elías Enrique Neira. For Vocations and Formation: Alexander Lam, Felix Meckl, Jude Usai, Andrew Batayola, and Gary McCloskey.

After a break and before lunch, the capitulars met again in their regional groups to reflect on the theme of Augustinian Studies and Theological Schools, following the same text of the Instrumentum Laboris.
In the afternoon session, moderated by P. Anthony Pizzo, OSA, the capitulars presented their reflections on Proposals 11 and 12. The discussions revealed both opportunities and challenges related to creating intercircumscriptional novitiates and houses of study. Some groups emphasized the need for regional or cultural criteria, pastoral integration, and shared resources, while others raised concerns regarding centers such as Santa Monica and Valladolid. Strong emphasis was placed on the importance of scholarships, particularly in Patristics, theology, and Augustinian spirituality, alongside calls for the training of formators, the establishment of regional centers of theology, and the expansion of programs through online offerings and international networks. Across the interventions, delegates highlighted the need to unite academic study with spirituality, ensure accessibility for less financially able circumscriptions, and prepare a new generation of Augustinians capable of serving both the Order and the wider Church.

After a brief pause, the delegates resumed their regional discussions, focusing on the communion of material goods, guided by questions of vision and direction for the next six years. The Prior General then named the commission entrusted with this theme, which included Anthony Banks, Nicholas Malarkey, Anthony Kanu, Mauricio Saavedra Monroy, and Gabriele Pedicino. The ninth day of the Ordinary General Chapter concluded with the capitulars gathering in the chapel for evening prayer.